Decision in Favour of a New KVM Generation at the WDR’s Network Operations Center
When a decision is made at the Network Operations Center (NOC) of Westdeutscher Rundfunk in Langenberg regarding new control room technology, it is done with the highest level of technical expertise. As the final instance before the viewer, the NOC is responsible for the uninterrupted distribution of all linear programmes. The replacement of an ageing IP-based system was therefore not an experiment, but the result of a precise market evaluation – with a clear outcome: the operating concept and system architecture of Jungmann Systemtechnik prevailed.
This is where it is decided every day whether television and radio programmes reach audiences in North Rhine-Westphalia, Western Europe and worldwide without disruption. Around the clock, the team at the Velbert-Langenberg operations center is responsible for the technical quality of all TV and radio signals. The NOC thus represents the final link in the WDR production chain – the interface between the studio and the audience.
High responsibility in 24/7 operations
The team at the center keeps a constant eye on all linear distribution paths of WDR programmes: terrestrial broadcasting in North Rhine-Westphalia, satellite distribution across Western Europe and worldwide livestreams. “We ensure that what is produced in the studios reaches the audience in the right quality,” explains Administrator Oliver Konschak. Quality is the key word. While many control rooms still rely on analogue technology, the WDR operations center has been working with IP-based KVM technology (KVM = keyboard, video, mouse) for more than a decade.
Experience creates clarity from the very start
The next step was therefore only logical: when the existing system technology became increasingly prone to faults and software updates were no longer sufficient to resolve issues, the team did not start from scratch. The requirements had long been defined – based on day-to-day operations. “We knew exactly what we wanted. And also what we didn’t want,” recalls Oliver Konschak. The objective was neither gimmicks nor a technical experiment. Instead, there was a clear focus: how can the existing way of working be consistently improved? More stable, more clearly structured, more intuitive to operate? As part of an open EU-wide procurement procedure, several providers were evaluated, concepts compared, and details scrutinised.
Operation as the decisive criterion
Konschak: “For us, the differences in operating philosophy were particularly significant. That’s where you quickly see what truly stands out. In fact, Jungmann’s operating concept was unmatched. Ultimately, that was the decisive factor.” For the project manager, the JST CommandPad® with the myGUI® operating interface clearly ranks at the top of the list of benefits.
The control room itself becomes the user interface
An interactive 3D view of the entire control room. All sources and displays are visualised – whether at the workstation or on the video wall. Applications can be moved on the CommandPad with a simple tap to wherever they are needed; without nested menus, without detours. Konschak: “This mode of operation is unmatched. No other provider offers this.”
This holistic access to the entire room was quickly adopted by the NOC team. Reduced operating paths and a clearly structured overview are crucial in 24/7 operations – particularly when multiple monitoring systems must be observed and assessed simultaneously.
Modifications for convenient login
In addition to KVM control and the new large-screen technology – for which the existing video wall cladding was precisely modified by JST’s furniture specialists – the network-based architecture plays a central role. With the implementation of JST MultiStreaming®, not only was the internal signal distribution restructured, but the foundation for cross-site operation was established at the same time.
The JST myLogin® software combines several requirements in a single solution. Each employee logs in with a personal profile; individual settings and workstation configurations are automatically loaded from the myGUI® database. “We can even use our staff ID cards for this. That’s quite convenient,” says Administrator Konschak.
Flexibility also in remote options
As the existing furniture in the NOC was retained, the login function was not integrated into the familiar JST Stratos console as usual, but implemented as an external panel solution. Here, too, the flexibility of the system became evident. At the same time, the combination of MultiStreaming® and myLogin® provides the technical basis for a connected backup control room in Cologne. Only authorised employees with stored profiles can access the systems there. In addition, secure remote access from the home office is available when required.
“It ran smoothly from day one”
After the first months in the new operations center, Oliver Konschak and the NOC team have reached a clear conclusion: in terms of operating logic, system architecture and integration capability, the JST solutions have enabled the WDR to reach a new level of IP-based KVM infrastructure. And: “The whole setup was completed so quickly, explained clearly, and our staff were trained – it ran smoothly from day one.”
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